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HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


CONTAINING 


Instructions for Beginners, 


CHOICE OF A MACHINE, 


HINTS ON TRAINING, Etc. 

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A COMPLETE BOOK. 


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FULL OF 


PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 




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New Yoek: 


FRANK TOUSEY, Publisher, 
34 and 36 North Moore Street. 




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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by 
FRANK TOUSEY, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 

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HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


INTRODUCTION. 

“ What makes him go sideways?” was the ques¬ 
tion addressed by Mr. Snodgrass to Mr. Winkle 
on his tall, bony steed, in the memorable journey of 
the immortal quartet to Dingley Dell, described 
in the “Pickwick Papers;” and as any one cross¬ 
ing a bicycle for the first time would feel something 
of Mr. W.’s awkwardness, and from exactly the 
same cause—want of skill in riding—I am about 
to give a few simple instructions for learners, with 
the view of enabling them to get some command of 
their iron (or steel) steed at an earlier period than 
Ihey would be able to do by themselves, as I well 
remember my own experiences, and can heartily 
sympathize with their difficulties. 

And as I had the principal share in the first in¬ 
troduction of the bicycle a few years ago, and 
have kept pace with its various stages of improve¬ 
ment up to the present time, it is easy for me to 
explain and illustrate the enormous difference be¬ 
tween riding the early machines and those of the 
present day; and the contrast between them is 
really so marked that it is visible to the most or¬ 
dinary observer. It is difficult to realize the fact 
that the low, clumsy affairs first introduced have 
developed into the light and graceful machines of 
the present day. But the simple fact is, that if 



' 4 HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 

the present style of bicycle had been brought for¬ 
ward in the first instance, its form would actually 
have hindered and stood in the way of its own 
success, as it would have been impossible for any 
one to have learned upon it, and in consequence 
it is probable not one in a hundred of our present 
numerous riders would have been able to master 
it. 

‘ And although I must certainly plead guilty to 
being agreeably surprised at the wonderful im¬ 
provement in the bicycle itself, I must claim to- 
have always recognized its capability, and to have 
had a firm belief in the steady increase in the 
number of riders. And as it has now gone suc¬ 
cessfully through the various stages of being 
laughed at as a toy , and tolerated as an amuse¬ 
ment, so I am firmly of opinion that it will eventu¬ 
ally become generally useful as a means of locomo¬ 
tion. 

And as we have various kinds of riding-horses 
for different purposes, from the roadster to the 
race-horse, so we have naturally machines of differ¬ 
ent construction, adapted to the use they are in¬ 
tended for. And here let me make a remark about 
bicycle racing. It is sometimes asked, what is the 
good of riding at full speed round and round a 
smooth and level cinder-path, when the true use is 
to travel along turnpike and other roads—good, 
bad, and indifferent? But as the race-horse is the 
highest development of that noble animal, so the 
racing bicycle is the best form of machine for speed , 
which is the primary object in each case; and, of 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


5 


course, it is highly interesting to know the great¬ 
est distance that can be run in a given time. And 
we should no more think of habitually careering 
along a heavy turnpike road on a racing machine 
than on a veritable race-horse. 

There is no necessity for me to go into a detailed 
account of the various stages of improvement 
which the bicycle has gone through, or to give an 
elaborate description of the first l( hobby-horses,” 
“ tricycles,” &c., &c., or - a long and tedious nar¬ 
rative telling who enlarged the fore wheel and 
diminished the hind one, or to whom we are in¬ 
debted for steel spider-wheels and india-rubber 
tires. This has been done at length by some 
writers, and any one who wishes can find out these 
particulars for himself. We have to do with the 
machine as it is now; and my object is to produce 
a small handy volume, which may be easily carried 
in the pocket, containing a few plain instructions 
for learners and as to the choice of a bicycle, a 
few hints on training—not special, but suitable for 
general adaptation—and a comprehensive road¬ 
book, as the true use of the machine is for travel¬ 
ing far and wide through the country. 

And here I may remark that, whereas it was 
formerly looked upon as a great achievement to 
run 45 miles in a day, it is now thought nothing 
very extraordinary to go twice that distance. 

LESSONS IN BICYCLE-RIDING. 

In learning to ride, it is advisable to have a 
competent teacher, who can not only show what is 


6 HOW TO RIDE A BICl'CLE. 

wanted, but can also put the beginner in the way 
of doing it himself; but as many may be unable, 
from distance or other causes, to avail themselves 
of this kind of assistance, the following instruc¬ 
tions are intended for those who are thus thrown 
upon their own resources. Of course, it is neces¬ 
sary to have recourse to a friendly arm, and there 
may be many cases in which tivo friends are desir¬ 
ous to learn the bicycle, and can give mutual help. 

In the early illustrations, it will be seen that the 
bicycle is of this construction, that is, of moderate 
height and the most solid build, and altogether 
very different from its latest development, as shown 
in the later sketches, with its enormous driving- 
wheel and general lightness of make. These ma¬ 
chines, with comparatively little difference in the 
height of the wheel, are best for beginners, as, 
being loiv , the getting on and off is easier and 
safer, and they are in every way adapted for the 
purpose; and it is only when tolerable command 
of this kind is acquired, that the modern large¬ 
wheeled bicycle may be adventured with fair pros¬ 
pect of success. 

But even with these some discrimination is 
necessary. In choosing a machine on which to 
begin practicing, I strongly advise the learner to 
select one of the size suitable to his height, as, if 
it is too small, his knees will knock against the 
handles, and if too large, his legs will not be long 
enough fairly to reach the throw of the crank. I 
know it is not uicommon to begin with a boy’s 
machine, and on an inclined plane; but the benefit 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


7 


of these is very doubtful, unless you are totally 
without help, and have no one to lend you a help¬ 
ing hand. 

The best guide in measuring oneself for a bicycle 
to learn on is, I consider, to stand by its side and 
see that the saddle is in a line with the hips. The 
point of the saddle should be about six inches from 
the upright which supports the handles; for if the 
saddle is placed too far back, you decrease your 
power over the driving-wheel, especially in ascend¬ 
ing a hill. 

When you have secured a good velocipede, 
well suited to your size, you will find it useful to 
practice wheeling it slowly along while holding the 
handles. While thus leading it about, of course 
you will soon perceive the fact that the first de¬ 
sideratum is to keep the machine perfectly upright, 
which is done by turning the handles to the right 
or left when there is any inclination to deviate 
from the perpendicular. If inclining to the right, 
turn the wheel in the same direction , and vice 
versa , as it is only the rapidly advancing motion 
that keeps it upright, on the principle of the boy’s 
hoop (so often quoted), which, the faster it rolls, 
the better it keeps its perpendicular, and which, 
when losing its momentum, begins to oscillate, and 
finallv must fall on one side or the other. 

Now for the— 

First Lesson. 

Having become accustomed to the motion of the 
machine, and well studied its mode of traveling, 
the next thing is to get the assistant to hold it 


8 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


steady while you get astride, and then let him 
slowly wheel it along. 

Do not attempt at first to put your feet on the 
treadles, but let them hang down, and simply sit 
quiet on the saddle, and take hold of the handles, 
while the assistant moves you slowly along, with 
one hand on your arm and the other on the end of 
the spring, as in Fig. 1. 

Fig. 1. 



How to Commence Practice. 

It is hardly necessary to say that the best place 
to learn is a large room or gallery, with smooth 
boarded floor or flag-stone pavement. 

Now, directly you are in motion you will feel quite 










HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 9 

helpless, and experience a sensation of being run 
away with, and it will seem as if the machine were 
trying to throw you off; but all you have to do is 
to keep the front wheel straight with the back 
wheel by means of the handles, and the assistant 
will keep you up and wheel you about for a quarter 
of an hour or so, taking rest at intervals. When 
you want to turn, move the handle so as to turn 
the front wheel in the direction required, but avoid 
turning too quickly, or you will fall off the reverse 
way. 

Observe that in keeping your balance, all is 
done by the hands guiding the front wheel. Do 
not attempt to sway your body, and so preserve 
your balance, but sit upright, and if you feel your¬ 
self falling to the left, turn the 'wheel to the left; 
that is to say, guide the machine in the direction 
in which you are falling, and it will bring you up 
again, but this must be done the same moment 
you feel any inclination from the perpendicular. 
Do not be violent and turn the wheel too much, or 
you will overdo it, and cause it to fall the other 
way. 

Practice guiding the machine in this way until 
you feel yourself able to be left to yourself for a 
short distance, and then let the assistant give you 
a push, and leaving his hold, let you run by your¬ 
self for a few yards before you incline to fall. 
Should you feel that you are losing your balance, 
stretch out the foot on the side on which vou in- 
cline, so that you may pitch upon it, and thus 
arrest your fall. 


10 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


Second Lesson. 

Having pretty well mastered the balancing and 
keeping the machine straight, you may now take 
a further step, and venture to place your feet on 

the treadles (as in Fig. 2), and you will now find 

Fig. 2. 



Lacing your Feet on the Treadles. 


the novel movement of the legs up and down liable 
to distract your attention from the steering or 
balancing; but after a few turns you will get 
familiarized with the motion, and find this diffi¬ 
culty disappear; and it will seem within the 
bounds of possibility that you may some time or 
other begin to travel without assistance. 















HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


11 


Of course in this and in the former lesson some 
will take to it more quickly than others, and the 
duration of the lessons must depend on the learner 
himself, and the amount of mechanical aptitude 
which he may be gifted with. Some I have known 
to take six times as much teaching as others; and 
1 have had the honor of teaching many, and among 
them some who bear eminent names, bankers, lit¬ 
erary men, etc., etc. 

Third Lesson. 

Now, having in the first lesson ridden with the 
feet hanging down, and in the second with them 
on the treadles, in the third lesson you should be 
able to go along for a short distance, working the 
treadles in the usual way. 

Of course, when I speak of the first and second 
lessons, 1 do not mean that after practicing each 
of them once you will be able, of necessity, to ride 
at the third attempt, although I have taught some 
who seemed to take to it all at once; but that these 
are the progressive steps in learning to ride, and 
you must practice each of them until tolerably pro¬ 
ficient. 

When you are sufficiently familiar with the work¬ 
ing of the treadles while held by the assistant, it 
depends entirely on yourself, and the amount of 
confidence you may possess, to determine the time 
at which he may let go his hold of you, and 
you may begin to go alone; but of course for 
some time it will be advisable for him to walk by 
your side, to catch you in case of falling. When 
you have arrived at this stage, you only require 


12 


IIOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


practice to make a good rider, and the amount 
of practice taken is generally a guide to the 
amount of skill gained. 

To Get On and Off. 

Having now learnt to ride the velocipede with¬ 
out assistance, we will now proceed to getting on 
and off in a respectable manner, in case you have 
not a step, which all modern machines are now 
provided with. The proper way is to vault on and 
off, which is the easiest way of all, when you can 
do it, but it certainly requires a little courage and 
skill. 

At first, it may be from want of confidence in 
yourself, you will jump at the machine and knock 
it over, both you and it coming down. But what 
is required to be done is, to stand on the 7e/6»hand 
side of the bicycle, and throw your -right leg over 
the saddle. Stand close to the machine, holding 
the handles firmly; then run a few steps with it 
to get a sufficient momentum, and then, leaning 
your body well over the handles, and throwing as 
much of your weight as you can upon them, with 
a slight jump throw your right leg over the saddle. 

This may sound formidable, but it is in reality 
no more than most equestrians do every time they 
mount, as the height of the bicycle to be cleared 
is little more than that of the horse’s back when 
the foot is in the stirrup, only the horse is sup¬ 
posed to stand quiet, and therefore you can jump 
with a kind of swing. 

You must be very careful that while running by 
the side you keep the machine perfectly upright, 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYOLE. 13 

particularly at the moment of jumping. Ferliaps 
at first you will vault on, forgetting to keep the 
machine quite perpendicular, and as an inevitable 
consequence you will come to the ground again, 
either on your own side, or, what is worse, you 
may go right over it, and fall with it on the top 
of you on the other side. 

Of course it is far better to have an assistant 
with you at your first attempt at vaulting, and it 
is good practice to let him hold the machine 
steady while you vault on and off as many times as 
you can manage. You must not forget to put all 
the weight you can on the handles, and although 
at first this seems difficult, it is comparatively easy 
when the knack is acquired. 

You will not attempt any vaulting until you can 
manage the machine pretty well when you are on, 
up to which time the assistant should help you on 
and set you straight. 

To get on with the help of the treadle is a very 
neat and useful method, but requires considerably 
more practice than vaulting. 

Stand, as in Fig. 3, with the left foot on the 
treadle, and taking a slight spring or “beat” 
from the ground with the right foot, give the ma¬ 
chine a good send forward, of course following it 
yourself, and with the rise bring the right foot over 
to the saddle. The secret of this movement is that 
you put as little weight as you can on the treadle, 
merely following the movement, which has a ten- 
tency to lift you, and keep the greater part of your 
weight on the handles. 


14 


HOW TO HIDE A BICYCLE. 


You may mount the bicycle in another way, and 
that is by running by its side, and watching the 
time when one of the treadles is at its lowest (as in 
Fig. 3); then place your foot upon it, and as it 

Fig. 3. 



How to Get on by the Treadle. 


comes up, the momentum thus gained will be suffi¬ 
cient to lift you quite over on to the saddle. In 
this movement also, as in most others, it is much 
better to have assistance at first. 

To vault off, you have merely to reverse all the 
movements just described. 

Another capital way of alighting from the ma¬ 
chine while in motion (Fig. 4), is to throw the 
right leg over the handles. You hold the left han¬ 
dle firmly, and raise your right leg over and into 














HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 15 

the center of the bandies, previously raising your 
right hand to allow the leg to pass under. Then 
lifting your left hand (as in Fig. 4), for the same 

Fig. 4. 



How to Alight. 


purpose, you will be able to 'bring your leg over 
into a side-sitting posture, and drop on to the 
ground with the same movement. 

But at this time- pay strict attention to the 
steering , and take care never to let go one hand 
until you have a firm hold with the other, or you 
and the whole affair may come to extreme grief. 

This I consider one of the easiest methods of 
getting off, although it looks so difficult. 












16 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


To Ride Side-Saddle. 

Riding in a side-sitting position is very simple, 
but you must first learn the foregoing exercises. 
First vault on in the usual way, and work up to a 
moderate speed, then throw the right leg over the 
handles as in the act of getting off, but still retain 
your seat, and continue working with the left leg 



To Bide Side-Saddle. 

only. Now from this position (Fig 5) you may 
practice passing the right leg back again into its 
original position when sitting across the saddle in 
the usual way. 

To Rest the Legs. 

Fig. 6 shows a very useful position when taking 



















HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. . 17 


long journeys, as it rests the legs, and also, as 

sometimes you do not require to work the treadle 

Fig. 6. 



1o Rest The Legs. 

descending an incline, the weight of the machine 
and yourself being sufficient to continue the desired 
momentum. 

In this position the break is generally used; but 
when putting it on mind you do not turn the 
handles with both hands at once, but turn with one 
first and then with the other; as, if the spring 
should be strong, and you attempt to use both 
hands in turning it, as a matter of course when 
you let go to take fresh hold the handles will fly 
back , to your great annoyance. 












18 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


To Ride Without Using the Hands. 

This is a very pretty and effective performance, 
but of course it is rather difficult, and requires 
much practice before attempting it, as the steering 
must be done with the feet alone, the arms being 
generally folded, as in Fig. 7. 

Fig. 7. 



Biding Without Using The Hands. 

To accomplish this feat, you must keep your feet 
firmly on the treadles in the upward as well as the 
downward movement, taking care not to take them 
off at all, as you will thereby keep entire command 
ol them, which is absolutely necessary, as in fact 













HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


19 


they are doing double work, both propelling and 
also steering the machine. You will, as you be¬ 
come expert in this feat, acquire a kind of clinging 
hold of the treadles, which you will find very use¬ 
ful indeed in ascending a hill when you take to 
outdoor traveling. Fancy riding of this kind must 
only be attempted on good surfaces. 

Description will not assist you much here, but 
when you attempt it you will soon find out that 
when riding without using the hands every stroke 
of the foot, either right or left, must be of the 
same force, as, if you press heavier on one treadle 
than on the other, the machine will have a ten¬ 
dency to go in that direction; and thus you must 
be on the watch to counteract it by a little extra 
pressure on the other treadle, without giving 
enough to turn the machine in the reverse direc¬ 
tion. 

This is all a matter of nice judgment, but when 
you can do it a very good effect is produced, giv¬ 
ing spectators the idea of your complete mastery 
of the bicycle. 

But remember that you must be always ready 
to seize the handles and resume command if any 
interruption to your progress presents itself. 

To Ride without using Legs or Hands. 

As you can now ride without using the hands, 
let us now proceed to try a performance wnich, at 
first sight, will perhaps seem almost impossible, 
but which is really not much more difficult than 
going without hands. This is to get the velocipede 
up to full speed, and then lift your feet off the. 


20 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


treadles and place them on each side of the rest 
(Fig. 8), and when your legs are up in this way, 
you will find that you can let go the handles and 

Fig . 8. 



fold your arms, and thus actually ride without us- 

ing legs or hands. 

In progressing thus, the simple fact is that you 
overcome gravity by motion, and the machine can¬ 
not fall until the momentum is lost ( vide boy’s 
hoop as before). 

This should only be attempted by an expert 
rider, who can get up a speed of twelve to four¬ 
teen miles per hour, and on a very good surface 













HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 21 

and with a good run; and, in fact, from this posi¬ 
tion you may lean back, and lay flat down, your 
body resting on and along the spring. 

At Rest. 

We are now come to the last and best, or, I 
may say, the most useful feat of all, and this is to 
stop the bicycle and sit quite still upon 

The best way to commence practicing this is to 
run into a position where you can hold by a railing 
or a wall, or perhaps the assistant will stand with 
his shoulder ready for you to take hold of. 

Now gradually slacken speed, and when coming 
nearly to a stand-still, turn the front wheel until it 
makes an angle of 45 deg. with the back wheel, 
and try all you know to sit perfectly still and up¬ 
right, as in Fig. 9. 

Of course this is a question of balancing, and 
you will soon find the knack of it. When the ma¬ 
chine inclines to the left, slightly press the left 
treadle, and if it evinces a tendency to lean to the 
right, press the right treadle; and so on, until, 
sooner or later, you achieve a correct equilibrium, 
when you may take out your pocket-book and read 
or even write letters, &c., without difficulty. 

Now, I do not think that there is anything 
further to be said as to learning to ride the bicy¬ 
cle, and can only express a hope that if you follow 
the advice and instruction I have been able to 
give, you will become an expert rider and be able 
to begin practicing on the “ Modern Bicycle.” 



22 HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


Fig . 9. 



At Best . 

THE DUPLEX BICYCLE. 


I believe the idea of two men riding on one 
machine is not novel, but in the drawing before 
the reader the novelty that is claimed lies in the 
connecting-iron, by means of which the two front 
wheels of two ordinary bicycles of the same make 
may be coupled together, and so formed into the 
duplex. Thus the expense attending the manufac¬ 
ture of an entirely new machine is avoided, and 
the purchase of the duplex connecting-iron com¬ 
plete, and one spring alone, is necessary to com¬ 
plete the machine, 




















HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


23 


The Duplex is fitted with two brakes, both act¬ 
ing on the rear wheel, and one worked by each 

Fig . 10. 



handle; two steps, and a leather splasher oyer the 
rear wheel to prevent splashing the man riding in 
front. 


CHOICE OF A MACHINE. 

Fig. 11 and 12 represent two of the best bicycles 
—a roadster and a racer. 

In choosing a bicycle, of course the first thing 
to be considered is the height of wheel, which 
greatly depends on the length of limb of the rider; 
as, of course, although two men may be of equal 
height, one may have a longer leg than the other. 
A good guide is to sit on the seat and let the toe 


























24 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


touch the Jower treadle without quite straighten¬ 
ing the leg, as of course command must never be 

lost. For a rider of average height, say 5 feet 8 

Fig . 11. 



sider suitable. But of course any well-known and 
reliable maker will furnish you with a machine to 
suit you. 

Having selected your “Modern Bicycle,” the 
first thing you want to accomplish is to be able 
to mount and dismount. Of course, the saddle 
being nearly as high as your shoulder, it is im¬ 
possible to vault on, as with the old “ practicer.” 
It is therefore necessary to provide a “step,” 
which, in all modern machines, is fitted on the 
backbone, or connecting-iron, just above the hinder 



















HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 25 

fork on the left side, at a convenient height. It 
consists of a small round plate, jagged, to afford 
a firm grip for the toe when placed upon it. 

Fiff. 12. 



There are two ways of mounting. One is to start 
the machine and to run by the left side, and put 
the left toe upon the step while in motion, throw¬ 
ing the right leg over on to the seat; the other is 
to stand at the back of the machine, standing on 
the right leg, with the left toe on the step (as in 
Fig. 13), and, gently starting, hop with the right 
leg until you have gained a sufficient impetus to 
raise yourself on the step, and throw your right 
leg across the seat. 




























26 HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


The first is the best plan, as you can run with 
greater speed, and mount; in fact, the quicker you 

Fig . 13. 



go, the easier to get on. In many cases it is the 
only practicable plan, as, for instance, on remount¬ 
ing on a slight ascent, where it would be most 
difficult to get up sufficient speed by the hopping 
plan, which, moreover, does not present a very 
graceful appearance. 

Now, in the second way of getting on by the 
step, as in Fig. 14, you hold the handle with the 
left hand to guide the machine, placing the other 
on the seat. You can now run it along easily. 
Your object in having one hand on the seat is, 
that if both hands are on the handles, you are 
overreached, and it is difficult to keep your 








HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 27 

balance. Now take a few running steps, and 
when the right foot is on the ground give a hop 
with that foot, and at the same time place the left 

Fig . 14. 


f 



foot on the step, throwing your right leg over on 
to the seat. Now, the hop is the principal 
thing to be done, as if, when running beside the 
bicycle at a good speed, you were merely to place 
the left foot on the step without giving a good hop 
with the other, the right leg would be left behind, 
and you would be merely what is called “doing 
the splits.” 

You will see at once that as the machine is trav- 










28 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


eling at good speed, you have no time to raise one 
foot after the other (as in walking up-stairs), as 
when you lift up your foot, you are, as it were, 
“ in the air,” and nothing but a good long running 
hop will give time to adjust your toe on the step as 
it is moving. This is. of course, difficult to de¬ 
scribe, and, I need not say, requires a certain 
amount of strength and agility, without which no 
one can expect to become an expert rider. 

But, in the high racing machines, no one would 
think of trying to mount without the assistance of 
a friendly arm, and a stand or stool of suitable 
height. 

Having now mounted the high machine (Fig. 
15), you will find that the reach of the leg, and the 
position altogether, is very different from the seat 
on the “bone-shaker;” but when you get some 
command, you will find the easy gliding motion 
much pleasanter, as well as faster. You are now 
seated much higher, in fact, almost on the top of 
the wheel; and, instead of using the ball of the 
foot, you must use your toe; and when the treadle 
is at the bottom of the throw of the crank, vour 
leg will be almost at its fullest extent and nearly 
straight. 

Now you must pay a little attention to the proc¬ 
ess of alighting. 

In getting off by the step all you have to do is 
to reach back your left foot until you feel the step, 
and, resting upon the handles, raise yourself up, 
and throw the right leg over the seat on to the 
ground. 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE, 29 

But I consider getting off by the treadle much 
the preferable way when you can manage it; but 

Fig. 15. 



you must be very careful when first trying not to 
attempt it until the machine is perfectly at rest. 
Get some one to hold you up, the bicycle being 
stationary, and practice getting off in the follow¬ 
ing manner: First, see that the left-hand crank 
is at the bottom, and with your left foot on that 
treadle practice swinging your right leg back¬ 
wards and forwards, in order to get used to the 
movement. Now while in position, as in Fig. 16, 














30 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


throw your right leg with a swing backwards, rest¬ 
ing as much as you can of your weight uppD the 

Fig. 16, 



handles, and raise yourself with your right foot 
into position as in Fig. 17, continuing your swing¬ 
ing movement until you*are off the seat and on the 
ground. 

When you are well able to get off in this way, 
with the bicycle at rest, you may attempt it when 
slackening speed to stop. As it is, of course, 
easier to get off the slower you are going, you 
must come almost to a stand-still, just keeping way 
enough to prevent the machine falling over, as, if 
you attempt it when going at all quickly, you will 















HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 31 

have to run by its side after you are off, which is 
a difficult feat for any but a skillful rider. 

The great advantage of getting off in this way is 

Fig. 17. 



that, with practice, you can choose your own time, 
which is very useful when an obstacle suddenly 
presents itself, as in turning a corner; and in get¬ 
ting off the other way you are liable to lose time in 
feeling for the step., 

There are different styles of riding, and of 
course at first you are glad to be able to get 
along in any way you can; out wiien you come to 
have any command over your machine, and have 










32 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


time to think about style, you cannot do better 
than take for your model some leading bicyclist 
whose upright and graceful seat gives such an im¬ 
pression of quiet power. Yery different is the ap¬ 
pearance presented by some well-known riders, 
who, although going at really good speed, present 
a painful appearance, hanging forwards over the 
handles as if about to topple over, aud favoring 
the beholders with such a variety of facial contor¬ 
tions. 


HINTS ON TRAINING. 

Iv is very difficult to give any rules that will 
apply to all, as constitutions differ so widely; but 
the simple rules of regular diet, rest and exercise, 
will apply to every one, whether they are going, 
as the saying is, “to race for a man’s life,” or 
merely trying to get themselves into the best frame 
of body to endure moderate exertion. The daily 
use of the cold bath, or tepid, if necessary, cannot 
be too strongly insisted upon; and also early rising 
and going to rest; and the avoidance of all rich 
viands, such as pork, veal, duck, salmon, pastry, 
&c., &c. Beef, mutton, fowls, soles, and fish of a 
similar kind, should form the principal diet. The 
severity of the rules of professional training has 
been much relaxed of late years, and many things, 
such as vegetables, stimulants in great modera¬ 
tion, &c., are now allowed, which before were 
rigidly excluded. 

In training for any special effort, of course it is 



HOW TO HIDE A BICYCLE. 


33 


necessary to have professional assistance; but with 
moderate attention to diet and regimen, any one 
may soon get himself into good condition, and 
particularly if he becomes an habitual bicycle- 
rider. 

As there may be some of our readers who are 
inclined to obesity, which will materially interfere 
with their success in learning to ride, I give an 
extract from Banting’s little work, attention to 
which will be found of great benefit in reducing 
fat; bearing in mind that they must be followed in¬ 
telligently, and only as far as the strength will 
safely allow. 

“The items from which I was advised to abstain 
as much as possible were: Bread, butter, milk, 
sugar, beer, and potatoes, which had been the 
main (and, I thought, innocent) elements of my 
subsistence, or at all events they had for many 
years been adopted freely. 

“These, said my excellent adviser, contain 
starch and saccharine matter, tending to create 
fat, and should be avided altogether. At the first 
blush, it seemed to me that I had little left to live 
upon, but my kind friend soon showed me there 
was ample. I was only too happy to give the 
plan a fair trial, and, within a very few days, 
found immense benefit from it. It may better elu¬ 
cidate the dietary plan if I describe generally what 
I have sanction to take, and that man must be an 
extraordinary person who would desire a better 
table: 

“For breakfast, at 9 a. m,, I take five to six 


34 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


ounces of either beef, mutton, kidneys, broiled 
fish, bacon, or cold meat of any kind except pork 
or veal; a large.cup of tea or coffee (without milk 
or sugar), a little biscuit, or one ounce of dry 
toast; making together six ounces solid, nine 
liquid. 

“For dinner, at 2 p. m., five or six ounces of 
any fish, except salmon, herrings, or eels, any 
meat except pork or veal, any vegetable except 
potato, parsnip, beetroot, turnip, or carrot, one 
ounce of dry toast, fruit out of a pudding not 
sweetened, any kind of poultry or game, and two 
or three glasses of good claret, sherry, or Madeira; 
Champagne, port, and beer forbidden; making to¬ 
gether ten to twelve ounces solid, and ten liquid. 

“For tea, at 6 p. m., two or three ounces of 
cooked fruit, a rusk or two, and a cup of tea with¬ 
out milk or sugar; making two to four ounces 
solid, nine liquid. 

“For supper, at 9 p. m., three or four ounces of 
meat or fish, similar to dinner, with a glass or two 
of claret or sherry and*water; making four ounces 
solid and seven liquid. 

“For nightcap, if required, a tumbler of grog 
—(gin, whisky, or brandy without sugar)—or a 
glass or two of claret or sherry. 

“This plan leads to an excellent night’s rest, 
with from six to eight hours’ sound sleep. 

“With the dry toast or rusk at breakfast and 
tea, I generally take a table-spoonful of spirit to 
soften it, which may prove acceptable to others. 
Perhaps I do not wholly escape starchy or sac- 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


35 


charine matter, but scrupulously avoid milk, sugar, 
beer, butter, &c., which are known to contain 
them.” 

-o- 

HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL. 


The following Laws and Regulations of the 
Game of Base Ball are substantially those recog¬ 
nized by Base Ball associations and clubs gener¬ 
ally: 

The Laws of Base Ball. 

1. Sec. I. The ball must weigh not less than 
five nor more than five and a quarter ounces; it 
must measure not less than nine nor more than 
nine and one-quarter inches in circumference; 
it must be composed of woolen yarn, and of two 
horse-hide covers, inside and outside, with yarn 
between said covers; it shall contain one ounce of 
round molded rubber vulcanized; and a ball made 
according to the above specifications must be 
stamped as to weight and size. 

Sec. II. In all games, the ball or balls played 
with shall be furnished by the home club, and shall 
become the property of the winning club. 

' Sec. III. The bat must be round or four-sided, 
and must not exceed two and one-half inches in 
diameter in the widest part. It must be made 
wholly of wood, and shall not exceed forty-two 
inches in length. 

Sec. IV. The bases must be four in number, and 
they must be placed and securely fastened upon 





36 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


each corner of a square, the sides of which are re¬ 
spectively thirty yards. The bases must be so con¬ 
structed and placed as to be distinctly seen by the 
umpire. The first, second and third bases must 
cover a space equal to fifteen inches square, and 
the home base one square foot of surface. The 
first, second, and third bases shall be canvas bags, 
painted white, and filled with some soft material. 
The home base shall be of white marble or stone, so 
fixed in the ground as to be even with the surface, 
and wholly within the diamond. One corner of 
said base shall face the pitcher’s position, and two 
sides shall form part of the foul lines. 

Sec. V. Thej base from which the ball is struck 
shall be designated the home base, and must be 
directly opposite the second base. The first base 
must always be that upon the right hand, and the 
third base that upon the left-hand side of the 
striker when occupying his position at the home 
base. In all match games, lines connecting the 
home and first bases, and the home and third 
bases, and also the lines of the striker’s and 
pitcher’s positions shall be marked by the use of 
chalk or other suitable material, so as to be dis¬ 
tinctly seen by the umpire. The line of the home 
base shall extend four feet on each side of the base, 
and shall be drawn through its center and parallel 
with a line extending from first to third base. The 
foul lines from first and third bases to home base 
shall be continued as straight lines to the limits of 
the field, beyond and back of said home base. The 
triangular space thus laid off behind the home 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


37 


base shall be for the exclusive use of the catcher, 
umpire, and batsman, and no player on the side at 
bat (except the batsman) shall be permitted to 
occupy any portion of such triangular space. Two 
lines marked in the same way as the foul lines, and 
parallel with said foul lines, shall be drawn, one 
fifteen feet and the other fifty feet distant lrom 
them, and terminating at the lines bounding the 
triangular space aforesaid. 

2. Sec. I. The game shall consist of nine innings 
to each side, and nine men shall constitute a full side. 
Should the score be a tie at the end of nine in¬ 
nings, play shall be continued until a majority of 
runs lor one side, upon an equal number of in¬ 
nings, shall be declared, when the game shall end. 
All innings shall be concluded when the third hand 
is put out. 

Sec. II. The home club shall first take the bat; 
the fielders of each club shall take any position in 
the field their captain may assign them, with the 
exception of pitcher, who must deliver the ball 
from his appointed position. 

See. III. No player taking part in the game 
shall be replaced by another after the commence¬ 
ment of the second inning, except for reason of ill¬ 
ness or injury. 

Sec. IV. No game shall be considered as played 
unless five innings on each side shall be completed. 
Should darkness or rain intervene before the third 
hand is put out in the closing part of the fifth in¬ 
ning of a game, the umpire shall declare, “No 
Game.’’ 


38 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


Sec. V. Should rain commence to fall during the 
progress of a match game, the umpire must note 
the time it began, and should it continue for five 
minutes, he shall, at the request of either captain, 
suspend play. Should the rain continue to fall for 
thirty minutes, after the play has been suspended, 
the game shall terminate. 

Sec. VI. When the umpire calls “play,” the 
game must at once be proceeded with. Should 
either party fail to take their appointed positions 
in the game, or to commence play as requested, the 
umpire shall, at the expiration of five minutes, 
declare the game forfeited by the nine that refuses 
to play. When the umpire calls “ time,” play shall 
be suspended until he calls “play” again, and 
during the interim no player shall be put out, base 
be run or run be scored. The umpire shall suspend 
play only for illness or an accident or injury to 
himself or a player, or on account of rain or lost 
ball. 

Sec. VII. The umpire in any match game shall, 
in case of rain or darkness, determine when play 
shall be suspended, and if the game cannot be 
fairly concluded it shall be decided by the score of 
the last even innings played, unless one nine shall 
have completed their innings, and the other nine 
shall have equaled or exceeded the score of their 
opponents in their incompleted innings, in which 
case the game shall be decided by the total score 
obtained, which score shall be recorded as the 
score of the game. 

Sec. VIII. When the side last at the bat in the 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 39 

ninth or any subsequent innings shall score the 
winning run the game shall terminate. 

Sec. IX. When the umpire calls ‘‘game,” it 
shall end; but when he merely suspends play for 
any stated period, it may be resumed at the point 
at which it was suspended, provided such suspen- 
sion does not extend beyond the day of the match. 

3. Sec. I. Any player, manager, or umpire, who 
shall in any way be interested in any bet or wager 
on any game, or who shall purchase, or have pur¬ 
chased for him, in any game in which he takes 
part, any pool or chance sold or given away, shall 
be expelled. 

Sec. II. Any player who shall conspire with any 
person whatever against the interests of his club, 
or by any conduct manifest a disposition to ob¬ 
struct the management of his club, may be ex¬ 
pelled by his club. 

4. Sec. I. The pitcher’s position shall be within 
a space of ground four feet wide by six feet long, 
the front or four-foot line of which shall be distant 
forty-five feet from the center of the home base, 
and the center of the square shall be equidistant 
from the first and the third bases—each corner of 
the square shall be marked by a flat iron plate or 
stone six inches square—fixed in the ground even 
with the surface. 

Sec. II. The player who delivers the ball to the 
bat must do so while wholly within the lines of 
pitcher’s position, he must remain within them 
until the ball has left his hand, and he shall not 
make any motion to deliver the ball to the bat 


40 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


while any part of his person is outside the lines of 
the pitcher’s position. The ball must be delivered 
to the bat with the arm swinging nearly perpen¬ 
dicular, at the side of the body, and the hand in 
swinging forward must pass below the hip. The 
pitcher when taking his position to deliver the ball 
must face the batsman, and shall not, while deliv¬ 
ering the ball, turn his back to the striker. 

Sec. III. Should the pitcher deliver the ball by 
an overhand throw, “ foul balk ” shall be declared. 
Any outward swing of the arm, or any other swing 
save that of the perpendicular movement referred 
to in section II. of this rule, shall be considered an 
overhand throw. 

Sec. IV. When a “foul balk” is called, the 
umpire shall warn the pitcher of the penalty in¬ 
curred bv such unfair deliverv, and should such 
delivery be continued until three foul balks have 
been called in one inning, or six in (he entire game, 
the umpire shall declare the game forfeited. 

Sec. V. Should the pitcher make any motion to 
deliver the ball to the bat and fail so to deliver it— 
except the ball be accidentally dropped—or should 
he unnecessarily delay the game by not delivering 
the ball to the bat, or should he, when in the act 
of delivering the ball, overstep the bounds of his 
position, the umpire shall call a “balk,” and play¬ 
ers occupying the bases shall take one base each. 

Sec. VI. Every ball fairly delivered and sent in 
to the bat over the home base and at the height 
called for by the batsman, shall be considered a 
good ball. 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


41 


Sec. VII. All balls delivered to the bat which are 
not sent in over the home base, and at the height 
called for by the batsman, shall be considered un¬ 
fair balls, and every ball so delivered must be call¬ 
ed; when eight balls have been called the striker 
shall take first base, and all players who are there¬ 
by forced to leave a base shall take one base. 
Neither a 11 ball ” nor a strike shall be called until 
the ball has passed the home base. 

Sec. VIII. All balls delivered to the bat which 
shall touch the striker’s bat without being struck 
at, or his (the batsman’s) person, while standing in 
his position, or which shall hit the person of the 
umpire, unless they be passed balls, shall be con¬ 
sidered dead balls, and shall be so called by the 
umpire; and no players shall be put out, base be 
run, or run be scored, on any such ball. But if a 
dead ball be also an unfair ball, it shall be counted 
as one of the eight unfair balls, which shall entitle 
a striker to a base if the umpire shall be satisfied 
that the pitcher in delivering the ball shall have so 
delivered it as to have intentionally caused the same 
to strike the batter. The umpire shall fine the 
pitcher therefor in a sum not less than ten dollars 
nor more than fifty dollars. 

5. Sec. I. The batsman’s or striker’s position 
shall be within a space of ground located on either 
side of the home base, six feet by three wide, ex¬ 
tending three feet in front and three feet behind 
the line of the home base, and with its nearest 
line distant about one foot from the home base. 

Sec. II. The batsmen must take their positions 


42 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


in the order in which they are directed by the cap¬ 
tain of their club, and after each player has had 
one time at the bat, the striking order thus estab¬ 
lished shall not be changed during the game. After 
the first inning, the first striker in each inning 
shall be the batsman whose name follows that of 
the last man who has completed his turn (time) at 
the bat in the preceding inning. 

Sec. III. Any batsman failing to take his posi¬ 
tion at the bat in his order of striking—unless by 
reason of illness or injury, or by consent of the 
captains of the contesting nines—shall be declared 
out, unless the error be discovered before a fair 
ball has been struck, or the striker been put out. 

Sec. IV. Any batsman failing to take his posi¬ 
tion at the bat within one minute after the um¬ 
pire has called for the striker, shall be declared 
out. 

Sec. V. The batsman on taking his position 
must call for either a high ball a low ball , or a 
fail' ball, and the umpire shall notify the pitcher 
to deliver the ball as required. Such call shall 
not be changed after the first ball delivered. 

Sec. VI. A high ball shall be one sent in above 
the belt of the batsman, but not higher than his 
shoulder. A low ball shall be one sent in at the 
height of the belt, or between that height and the 
knee, but not higher than his belt. A fair ball 
shall be one between the range of shoulder-high 
and the knee of the striker. All the above must 
be over the home base, and, when fairly delivered, 
shall be considered fair balls to the bat. 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 43 

Sec. VII. Should the batsman fail to strike at 
the ball, the umpire shall call “one strike,” and 
“two strikes,” should lie again fail. When two 
strikes have been called, should the batsman not 
strike at the next “good ball,” the umpire shall 
warn him by calling “good ball.” But should he 
strike at and fail to hit the ball, or should he fail 
to strike at or hit the next good ball, “three 
strikes” must be called, and the batsman must run 
towards first base, as in the case of hitting a fair 
ball. 

Sec. VIII. The batsman, when in the act of 
striking at the ball, must stand wholly within the 
lines of his position. 

Sec. IX. Should the batsman step outside the 
lines of his position, when he strikes at the ball, 
the umpire shall call, “Foul Strike and Out,” and 
the base-runners shall return to the bases they 
occupied when the ball was struck at or hit. 

Sec. X. The foul lines shall be unlimited in the 
length and shall run from the right and left hand 
corners of the home base, through the center of 
the first and third bases, to the foul posts, 
which shall be located at the boundary of the field 
and within the range of home and first base, and 
home and third base. Said lines shall be marked, 
and on the inside, from base to base, with chalk, 
or some other white substance, so as to be plainly 
seen by the umpire. 

Sec. XI. If the ball, from a fair stroke of the 
bat, first touches the ground, the person of a player, 
or any other object, either in front of or on the 


44 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


foul ball lines, or the first or third base, it shall be 
considered fair; if the ball, from a fair stroke of 
the bat, first touches the ground, the person of a 
player, or any other object behind the foul ball 
lines, it shall be declared foul and not in play until 
settled in the hands of the pitcher; and the bats¬ 
man shall not be declared out. 

Sec. XII. When the batsman has fairly struck a 
fair ball he shall vacate his position, and he shall 
then be considered a base-runner until he is put 
out or scores his run. 

Sec. XIII. The batsman shall be declared out by 
the umpire as follows: 

If a fair or foul ball be caught before touching 
the ground, or any object other than the player, 
provided it be not caught in the player’s hat or 
cap. 

If a foul ball be similarly held, before touching 
the ground. 

If a fair ball be securely held by a fielder while 
touching first base with any part of his person be¬ 
fore the base-runner touches said base. 

If, after three strikes have been called, he fails 
to touch first base before the ball is legally held 
there. 

If, after three strikes have been called, the ball 
be caught before touching the ground. 

If he plainly attempts to hinder the catcher 
from catching the ball, evidently without effort to 
make a fair strike, or makes a “foul strike.” 

6. Sec. I. Players running bases must touch each 
base in regular order, viz.: first, second, third and 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 45 

home bases; and when obliged to return to bases 
they have occupied, they must retouch them in re¬ 
verse order, both when running on fair and foul 
balls. In the latter case, the base-runner must re¬ 
turn to the base where he belongs on the run, and 
not at a walk. No base shall be considered as 
having been occupied or held until it has been 
touched. 

Sec. U, No player running the bases shall be 
forced to vacate the base he occupies unless the bats¬ 
man becomes a base-runner. Should the first base 
be occupied by a base-runner when a fair ball is 
struck, the base-runner shall cease to be entitled to 
hold said base until the player running to first base 
shall be put out. The same rule shall apply in the 
case of the occupancy of the other bases under 
similar circumstances. No base-runner shall be 
forced to vacate the base he occupies if the base- 
runner succeeding him is not thus obliged to vacate 
his base. 

Sec. III. Players forced to vacate their bases 
may be put out by any fielders in the same manner 
as when running to first base. 

Sec. IV. The player running the first base shall 
be at liberty to overrun said base without his being 
put out for being off the base after first touching it, 
provided that in so overrunning the base he make 
no attempt to run to second base: in such case he 
must return at once and re-touch first base, and after 
re-touching said base he can be put out as at any 
other base. If in so overrunning first base he also 


46 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


attempts to run to second base, he shall forfeit such 
exemption from being put out. 

Sec . V. Any player running a base who shall run 
beyond three feet from the line from base to base, 
in order to avoid being’touched by the ball in the 
hands of a fielder, shall be declared out by the um¬ 
pire with or without appeal; but in case a fielder 
be occupying the runner’s proper path attempting 
to field a batted ball, then the runner shall run out 
of the path and behind said fielder, and shall not 
be declared out for so doing. 

Sec. YI. One run shall be scored every time a 
base-runner, after having regularly touched the 
three first bases, shall touch the home base beiore 
three hands are out, and players shall score in the 
order of going to the bat, unless previously put 
out. If the third hand out is forced out, or is put 
out before reaching first base, a run shall not be 
scored. 

Sec. VII. When a “balk” is called by the um¬ 
pire, every player running the bases shall take 
one base without being put out, and shall do so 
on the run. 

Sec .■ VIII. When “ eight balls ” shall have been 
called by the umpire, the batsman shall take one 
base, provided he do so on the run, without being 
put out, and should any base-runner be forced 
thereby to vacate his base, he shall take one base. 
Each base-runner thus given a base shall be at 
liberty to run to other bases besides the base given, 
but only at the risk of being put out in so running. 

[ Sec. IX. A base-runner shall be considered as 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 47 

holding a base, viz: entitled to occupy it, until 
lie shall have regularly touched the next base in 
order. 

Sec. X. No base shall be run—or run be scored 
—when a fair or foul ball has been caught or mo¬ 
mentarily held before touching the ground, unless 
the base held when the ball was hit is re-touched 
by the base-runner after the ball lias been so caught 
or held by the fielder. 

Sec. XI. No run or base can be made upon a 
foul ball that shall touch the ground before being 
caught or held by a fielder, and any player running 
bases shall return, without being put out, to the 
base he occupied when the ball was struck, and 
remain on such base until the ball is held by the 
pitcher. 

Sec. XII. Any player running the bases on fair 
or foul balls caught before touching the ground 
must return to the base he occupied before the ball 
was struck, and retouch such base before attempt¬ 
ing to make another or score a run, and said 
player shall be liable to be put out in so returning, 
as in the case of running to first base when a fair 
ball is hit and not caught flying. 

Sec. XIII. If the player running the base is 
prevented from making a base by the obstruction 
of an adversary, he shall be entitled to that base 
and shall not be put out. 

Sec. XIV. No player shall be allowed a substi¬ 
tute in running the bases, except for illness or in¬ 
jury incurred in the game then being played, and 
such substitute shall take such ill or injured play* 


•IS 


HOW TO HIDE A BICYCLE. 


cr’s place only after he reaches first base* The 
opposing captain shall select the man to run as 1 
substitute. 

Sec. XV. Any player running the bases shall 
be declared out if at any time, while the ball is in 
play, he is touched by the ball in the hand of a 
fielder, without some part of his person is touch¬ 
ing a base. The ball must be held by the player 
after touching the runner. 

If a ball be held by a fielder on the first base 
before the base-runner, after hitting a fair ball, 
touches that base, he shall be declared out. 

I f a base-runner shall have touched the base he' 
is running for before being touched with the ball 
in the hands of a fielder, and such base shall break: 
from its fastening, he shall be entitled to such 
base. 

Any base-runner failing to touch the base he 
runs for, shall be declared out if the ball be held 
by a fielder, while touching said base, before the 
base-runner returns and touches it. 

Any base-runner who shall in any way interfere ; 
with or obstruct a fielder while attempting to catch 
a fair fly ball, or a foul ball, shall be declared out. 
If he willfully obstructs a fielder from fielding a 
ball, he shall be declared cut, and, if a batted fair 1 
ball strike him, he shall be declared out. 

If a base-runner, in running from home to first- 
base, shall run inside the foul line, or more than: 
three feet outside of it, he shall be declared out. 



HOW TO RTT)E A BICYCLE. 49 

The Umpire and His Authority Under the 

Rules. 

The gentleman selected to fill the position of 
umpire must keep constantly in mind the fact that 
upon his sound discretion and promptness in con¬ 
ducting the game, and compelling the players to 
observe the spirit as well as the letter of the rules, 
largely depends*the merits of the game as an ex¬ 
hibition, and the satisfaction of spectators there¬ 
with. He must make his decisions distinct and 
clear, remembering that every spectator is anxious 
to hear each decision. He must keep the contest¬ 
ing nines playing constantly from the commence¬ 
ment of the game to its termination, allowing such 
delajs only as are rendered unavoidable by acci¬ 
dent, injury or rain. He must, until the comple¬ 
tion of the game, require the players of each side 
to promptly take their positions in the field as soon 
as the third hand is put out, and must require the 
first striker of the opposite side to be in his posi¬ 
tion at the bat as soon as the fielders are in their 
places. 

The players of the; side at bat occupy the portion 
of the field allotted to them subject to the condi¬ 
tion that they must speedily vacate any portion 
thereof that may be in the way of the ball, or any 
fielder attempting to catch or field it. The trian¬ 
gular space behind the home base is reserved for 
the exclusive use of the umpire, catcher and bats¬ 
man, and the umpire must prohibit any player of 
the side at bat from crossing the same at any 
time while the ball is in the hands of, or passing 


50 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


between, the pitcher or catcher while standing in 
their positions. 

The umpire is master of the field, subject to the 
rules of this Association, from the commencement 
to the termination of the game, and must compel 
the players to observe the provisions of this Article, 
and of all other Articles of the Playing Rules, and 
he is hereby invested with authority to order any 
player to do, or omit to do, any act necessary to 
give force and effect to any and all of such pro¬ 
visions, and power to inflict on any player disobey¬ 
ing any such order a fine of not less than five dol¬ 
lars or more than ten dollars for each offense, and 
to impose a similar fine upon any player who shall 
use abusive, threatening, or improper language to 
the umpire, spectators, or other player. The um¬ 
pire shall at once notify the captain of the offend¬ 
ing player’s side of the infliction of any fine herein 
provided for, and said captain shall at once pay, 
or arrange for payment of said fine to the home 
club, who shall at once remit it to the Secretary, 
and unless said fine is paid, or arranged to be 
paid, the game shall be forfeited. 

For the last twentv-five vears we have been 
making and re-making rules and laws for the im¬ 
provement of base ball and its players. All who 
desire to see the game become again popular with 
our people, are to use their best efforts in the en¬ 
forcement of the above laws. 



HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 

LAWN TENNIS. 


51 


The players may be few or many, but the best 
game is formed by two, four, or eight persons. 
When more than two join the game, sides are to 
be formed. The players occupy the courts on each 
side of the net, and the choice of courts is usually 
decided either by tossing or by a spin of the rac¬ 
quet. For the sake of simplification, the winner 
of the service is called server, and the player who 
receives the service, the servee. He who serves 
(i.e ., delivers the first stroke), is said to be 
Hand-in, if he loses a stroke, he becomes Hand¬ 
out, and his adversary becomes Hand-in and 
serves. 

Description of the Game. 

The ball shall be served by the Hand-in standing 
with one foot without the base line of the court. 
The racquet should be held lightly but firmly with 
the fingers, and in such a position that, while the 
stroke may be firm and vigorous, the wrist may 
have free play in order to attain the strokes, the 
cut, the twists, and the screw, which enables the 
player to place the ball in any part of his adver¬ 
sary’s court. He must serve the ball from the 
right and left courts alternately, and must hit it so 
that it shall drop over the net between the net and 
service line of the court diagonally opposed to that 
from which it was delivered. The server or Hand- 
in from the left conrt consequently has to serve to 
the servee or player occupying the left-hand court 



52 HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 

on the opposite side. It is a fault if the ball served 
shall drop in the wrong court, or beyond the ser¬ 
vice line, and the Hand-in shall serve again from 
the same court. 

The ball to be served properly must fall in the 
court diagonally opposed to the server, between 
the net and the service line. If the Hand-out or 
servee take, or attempt to take, a ball served in the 
^rong court, or over the service line, the service 
shall be treated as good (i. e., it shall not be the 
fault of the server). The service, or ball served, 
is not to be volleyed (i. e., taken before it shall 
have touched the ground) by the Hand-out or servee. 
The Hand-in is not to serve until the Hand-out 
shall be prepared. The Hand-in shall win a stroke 
and score one point if the Hand-out fails to return 
the ball served or any subsequent stroke, if he 
volleys the service, or if he strikes the ball in play 
so that it shall drop out of the court. The 
Hand-in shall be Hand-out if he fails to serve the 
ball over the net, or if he serves it so that it shall 
drop out of the court. If he makes two successive 
faults (2. e., if he twice serves the ball into the 
wrong court or beyond the service line), he shall 
also be Hand out; or if, after the ball has been re¬ 
turned by the Hand-out, in his turn he fails to re¬ 
turn the ball in play so that it shall drop in the 
opposite court. 

The Hand-in duly serves the ball from the right 
court to the opposite right court, between the net 
and the service line, and the Hand-out following 
up the game safely returns the ball after it has 


HOW TO IlIUE A BICYCLE. 


53 


touched the ground, and before it has touched the 
ground a second time, so that it shall pass over the 
net in due course. After the service has been so 
returned, the ball is a good return, provided that 
it falls anywhere on the opposite side of the net, 
and not outside of the base or boundary lines. 
After the service has been returned by the servee, 
all distinctions of court cease, and the ball is hit 
to and fro until either it fails to pass over the net, 
or it goes over the base line, or outside the bound¬ 
ary lines. If it touch the hand, or any part of the 
person, or clothes of any player, or if a player shall 
strike the ball more than once, it shall also be a 
false stroke, and count to the opposite side; or if a 
player either take a fault, or aim at and miss a ball 
that passes over the base or boundary lines, it shall 
be considered a false stroke, and count to the op¬ 
posite side. A ball which drops on any line is 
considered to have dropped into the court marked 
by that line, and to be a good service or return 
although the ball touch the net or either of the 
posts. 

The game is won by the player or side first scor¬ 
ing fifteen aces, and an ace is won whenever the 
Hand-out fails to return the ball properly over the 
net or outside the boundaries, if it hits his person 
or clothes, if he aims at and misses a ball passing 
outside the boundary lines. Any of these failures 
give an ace to the Hand-in, and he serves again 
from the opposite court serving, alternately from 
each court until he becomes Hand-out by failing to 
return the ball according to rule. It is worthy of 


54 


HOW TO BIDE A BICYCLE. 


remark too, that if both players reach fourteen the 
score is called “ Deuce.” Another point called 
“Vantage” is then introduced, and a player, in 
order to score Game, must win two points in suc¬ 
cession, viz., Vantage and Game, otherwise, though 
he may have won Vantage, if he should lose the 
next stroke the score returns to Deuce. 

Double matches are played the same as single, 
except that there are two players on each side. 
At the commencement of a game, the Hand-in or 
side serving shall only have one service, and on 
that player being Hand-out, both the opposite side 
are Hand-in, the same as at Racquet. One mem¬ 
ber of A’s side serves first, and if either his partner 
or he fail to return the ball properly, the Hand-in 
goes to B, to be followed by B’s partner, and then 
to A and his partner, and so on. After the first 
Hand-in, when the Hand-in who first serves shall 
have been put out, his partner shall serve so that 
before the side is Hand-out both partners shall 
have been put out. The Hand-in serves from the 
right court to the opposite right court, and con¬ 
tinues to change from right to left as long as he 
scores, the opposite players maintning their posi 
tions for the service. 

When a player of one side is Hand-out, and his 
partner becomes Hand-in, the latter serves from 
the court different to that occupied by his partner 
when losing his service. The Hand-in serves the 
ball under the same provisions as in single games; 
but after the service has. been properly returned, 
the partners on either side may occupy any posi- 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


55 


tions in their court they may find advisable, and 
either may take the ball. It* the service be deliv¬ 
ered into the wrong court, it may be taken by 
either adversary. In other respects, the same laws 
guide double as they do single matches.- In double 
games the side has the same advantages as the 
individual, and Vantage and Game can be scored 
by the partners instead of by one of them, as in 
single games. 

There are numerous ways of handicapping play¬ 
ers or sides to make the game equal. A player 
may restrict himself to half-court, i. e., lie may 
elect as to which half of the opposite court he will 
play. In this case re will lose the stroke if he fail 
to drop the ball into that hall-court, the same as if 
he infringed the usual rules. Others have a cord 
stretched between the posts at a height of seven 
feet, or any other height agreed upon, and the 
giver of odds has to play every ball over this cord 
or lose a stroke. A player may give his adversary 
points, or he may concede his adversary the privi¬ 
lege of being Hand-in two or more times. If one 
player plays against two adversaries he will be 
Hand-in twice, except at the commencement of the 
game. 

The following hints and directions are by Mr. 
John Tompkins, of the Tennis Court. Brighton. 

The racquet should lie in the hand and be grasp* 
ed by the thumb and fingers. The hand should be 
elongated, so that the player may have a free use 
of the wrist. The racquet should be held so as to 
be a continuation of the arm. 

>‘> 

> * 

«* \ » 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


50 

In striking with the racquet the stroke should 
come from the shoulder and not from the elbow. 
In holding the racquet the face of it should be at 
an angle, the bottom of the racquet forward, then 
when it meets the ball it will have what is called a 
cut, so that when a ball is struck it acquires a 
natural rise, because in this way the ball is hit 
below its center. 

The advantage of the cut is that it gives more 
time for the ball to rise, because it retards its 
motion. 

There are two twists that can be given to the 
ball besides the cut. 1st. The underhand twist; it 
is given by the ball being struck on the left-hand 
side of the head of the racquet, below the hand, 
the racquet brought upwards. The overhand 
twist is given by the player striking the ball on 
the right-hand side, with the head of the racquet 
above the hand. In the underhand twist the 
bound of the ball is to the right-hand side, and in 
the overhand twist to the left-hand side. 

The player should stand easily, the left leg ad¬ 
vanced a little in Iront, the body should be in line 
with the direction that the ball is required to go, 
as the stroke is given by the racquet passing in 
front of the bodv. 

A ball being taken towards the right hand, 
rather behind the player, will go into the back¬ 
hand corner of his adversary’s court; if taken ex¬ 
actly opposite the body, it will go in a straight 
line down the court; if taken a little more in front 

SHI 

v 1 / 
r. ,V// 

V. ' 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 57 

of the body, towards the left hand, it will then go 
into the fore-hand court of his adversary. 

When striking, the body should be moved to 
give power to the stroke. 

If the player wants to know what twist his ad¬ 
versary has put on the ball, he must watch his 
racquet as he strikes, and by its motion, as de¬ 
scribed above, he will know what twist has been 
put on the ball, and where to place himself. 

When the ball is played backhanded, the right 
leg should be extended a little in front of the body, 
the back of the hand turned up so as to give the 

0 

same oblique direction to the racquet for the back¬ 
hand as for the forehand. 

When a ball is taken near the ground, the body 
should be dropped so that the player may get the 
edge of his racquet under the ball. 

If half volley, the player must meet the ball just 
as it leaves the ground. 

Whatever the size of the court may be, the ser¬ 
vice line should be one-third from the end. 

Laws of Lawn Tennis. 

1. The choice of sides and the right of serving 
during the first game shall be decided by toss; pro¬ 
vided that if the winner of the toss choose the 
right to serve, the other player shall have the 
choice of sides, and vice versa. The players shall 
stand on opposite sides of the net; the player who 
first delivers the ball shall be called the Server, the 
other the Striker-out. At the end of the first game 
the Striker-out shall become Server, and the Server 


58 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 

shall become Striker-out; and so on alternately in 
the subsequent games of the set. 

2. The Server shall stand with one foot outside 
the Base-Line, and shall deliver the service from 
the Right and Left Courts alternately, beginning 
from the Right. The ball served must drqp within 
the Service-Line, Half-Court-Line, and Side-Line of 
the Court which is diagonally opposite to that 
from which it was served, or upon any such 
line. 

3. It is a fault if the ball served drop in the net, 
or beyond the Service-Line, or if it drop out of 
Court, or in the wrong Court. A fault may not be 
taken. After a fault, the Server shall serve again 
from the Court from which he served that fault. 

4. The service may not be volleyed— i. e ., taken 
before it touches the ground. 

5. The Server shall not serve until the Striker- 
out is ready. If the latter attempt to return the 
service, he shall be deemed to be ready. A good 
service delivered when the Striker-out is not ready 
annuls a previous fault. 

6. A ball is returned, or in-play, when it is 
played back, over the net, before it has touched 
the ground a second time. 

7. It is a good service or return, although the 
ball touch the net. 

8. The Server wins a stroke if the Striker-out 
volley the service; or if he fail to return the ser¬ 
vice or the ball in.play; or if he return the service 
or ball in-play so it drop outside any of the lines 


HOW TO RIDE 4 BICYCLE. 59 

which bound his opponent’s Court; or if he other¬ 
wise lose a stroke, as provided by Law 10. 

9. The Striker-out wins a stroke, if the Server 
serve two consecutive faults; or if he fail to return 
the ball in-play so that it drop outside any of the 
lines which bound his opponent’s Court, or if he 
otherwise lose a stroke, as provided by Law 10. 

10. Either player loses a stroke, if the ball in¬ 
play touch him or anything that he wears or car¬ 
ries, excep* his racquet in the act of striking; or 
if he touch or strike the ball in-play with his rac¬ 
quet more than once. 

11. On either player winning his first stroke the 
score is called 15 for that player; on either player 
winning his second stroke the score is called 30 for 
that player; on either player winning his third 
stroke the score is called 40 for that player; and 
the fourth stroke won by either player is scored 
game for that player, except as below: 

Sec. 1. If both players have won three strokes, 
the score is called deuce, and then the next stroke 
scored by either player is scored advantage for 
that player. If the same player win the next 
stroke, he wins the game; if he lose the next 
stroke, the score is again called the deuce, and so 
on until either player win the two strokes immedi¬ 
ately following the score of deuce, when the game 
is scored for that player. 

12. The player who wins six games wins a set, 
except as below: 

Sec. 1. If both players win five games, the score 
is called games-all, and the next game won by 


60 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 


either player is scored advantage-game for that 
player. If the same player win the next game, 
he wins the set; if he lose 4 the next game, the 
score is again called games-all, and so on until 
either player win the two games immediately fol¬ 
lowing the score of games-all, when he wins the 
set. 

* 

Note. —Players may agree not to play advantage- 
sets, but to decide the set by one game after arriv¬ 
ing at the score ot games-all. 

13. The players shall change sides at the end of 
every set. When a series of sets is played, the 
player who was server in the last game of one set 
shall be striker-out in the first game of the next. 

. 14. A bisque is one stroke, which may be claimed 
by the receiver of the odds at any time during a 
set, except as below : 

Sec. I. A bisque may not be taken after the 
service has been delivered. 

Sec. IT. The Server may not take a bisque after 
a fault; but the Striker-out may do so. 

15. One or more bisques may be given in aug¬ 
mentation or diminution of other odds. 

16. Half-15 is one stroke, given at the beginning 
of the second and every subsequent alternate game 
of a set. 

17. 15 is one stroke given at the beginning of 
every game of a set. 

18. Half-30 is one stroke given at the beginning 
of the first game, two strokes at the beginning of 
the second game; and so on, alternately, in all the 
subsequent games of a set. 


HOW TO RIDE A BICYCLE. 61 

19. 30 is two strokes given at the beginning ol 
every game of a set. 

20. Hall-40 is two strokes given at the begin¬ 
ning ol the first game, th;ee strokes at the begin¬ 
ning ol the second game; and so on, alternately, 
in all the subsequent games of a set. 

21. 40 is three strokes given at the beginningof 
every game of a set. 

22. Half-Court: the players having agreed into 
which Court the giver of odds shall play, the latter 
loses a stroke if the ball, returned by him, drop 
outside any of the lines which bound that Court. 

Three-Handed and Four-Handed Games. 

23. The above laws shall apply to the three- 
handed and four-handed games, except as below: 

Sec. I. In the three-handed game, the single 
player shall serve in every alternate game. 

Sec. II. In the four-handed game, the pair who 
has the right to serve in the first game may decide 
which partner shall do so, and the opposing pair 
may decide similarly for the second game. The 
partner of the player who served in the first game 
shall serve in the third; and the partner of the 
player who served in the second game shall serve 
in the fourth; and so on in the same order in all the 
subsequent games of a set or series of sets. 

See. III. The players shall take the service alter¬ 
nately throughout each game; no player shall re¬ 
ceive or return a service delivered to his partner; 
and the order of service and of striking-out once 
arranged shall not be altered, nor shall the strik- 


62 


HOW TO . RIDE A BICYCLE. 


ers-out change Courts to receive the service, be¬ 
fore the end of the set. 

Alternate Method of Scoring. 

24. The above laws shall apply to Lawn Tennis, 
played by the game, except as regards the method 
of scoring. The word Hancl-in shall be substituted 
for Server , and Hand-out for Striker-out. 

25. The Hand-in alone is able to score. If he 

lose a stroke, he becomes Hand-out, and his op¬ 
ponent becomes Hand-in, and serves in his turn. 

26. The player who first wins 15 points scores 
the game. 

27. If both players have won 14 points, the 
game is set to 3. The score is called Love-all. 
The Hand-in continues to serve, the player who 
first wins 3 points scores the game. 

28. In the three-handed or four-handed game, 
only one partner of that side which is Hand-in 
shall serve at the beginning of each game. If he 
or his partner lose a stroke, the other side shall 
be Hand-in. 

29. During the remainder of the game, when 
the first Hand-in has been put out, his partner 
shall serve, beginning from the Court from which 
the last service was not delivered; and, when both 
partners have been put out, then the other side 
shall be Hand-in. 

30. The Hand-in shall deliver the service in ac¬ 
cordance with Laws 2 and 3; and the opponents 
shall receive the service alternately, each keeping 
the Court which he originally occupied. In all 
subsequent strokes, the ball may be returned by 
either partner on each side. 

31. One or more points may be given in a game. 

32. The privilege of being Hand-in two or more 
successive times may be given. 

[the end.] 


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